Automatic holder for towels, hats and other articles



H. J. CLAY Nov. 10, 1959 AUTOMATIC HOLDER FOR TOWELS, HATS AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Feb. 11, 1955 INVENTOR. J. CLAY HARRY I 2,912,117 4 Patented Naval- 1959 AUTOMATIC HOLDER FOR TOWELS, HATS AND OTHER ARTICLES This invention relates to new and useful improvements in towel and hat'racks;

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved holder for towels, hats and the like which can be made simply and inexpensively entirely of plastic material and which can be used easily and conveniently.

Still further, the present invention proposes forming the holder with a minimum of parts and with those parts constructed and arranged so as always positively to operate without the need of any servicing or adjustment.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for towels, hats and the like constructed and arranged according to the present invention and with a towel indicated by dotdash outline in the holder.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the structure, shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

The holder for towels, hats and the like, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, is designated generally by the reference numeral 15.

Holder has a block or plate 16 which preferably is made of plastic material. Plate 16, as shown, is rectangular with an upper end 17, a lower end 18 and sides 19 and 20. Mounting openings or holes 21 in the plate 16 adapt the plate for mounting vertically on a wall. Side flanges 22, 23, 24 and 25 are provided all around the plate 16 to space the back 26 of the plate from the wall or surface on which the plate is mounted. The front 27 of the plate 16 may be smooth or ornamented.

A shell housing 28 is mounted on the front 27 of the plate 16. Shell housing 28 has a closed upper end 29 and an open lower end 30 and rearwardly directed sides 31 and 32 which are secured to the front 27 of the plate as by cementing or the like. Sides 31 and 32 are formed so as to provide towel and hat receiving openings 33 and 34 adjacent the open lower end 30 of the housing 28 when the housing is mounted on the plate 16. The openings or slots 33 and 34 are of a size to permit a towel 35 to fit between the edges 36 of the sides 31 and 32 and the front or face 27 of the plate 16. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The brim of a hat or other like objects (not shown) may also be received in the openings or slots 33 and 34.

Finger gripping members or projections 37 and 38 slots or openings 33 and 34.

are provided on the shell housing 28 adjacent the sides 31 and 32 and extending substantially the length of the Aball 40 is rotatably and rollably mounted in the shell housing 28 between the rear surface 41 of the front wall 42 of the housing 28 and the front or face 27 of the plate 16 to form means in the housing removably to hold the towel 35, in the slots or openings 33 and 34 Ball 40 may be made of plastic or other material or may be a glass marble or the like. 1

An inverted U-shaped ball guide member 43 is also mounted in the shell housing 28 and fixed to the rear surface 41 of its front wall 42. The ball guide member may be formed with the housing as an integral part thereof in the molding or other formation of the housing.

Guide member 43 has a pair of spaced vertically disposed parallel arms 44 and 45 and an open end 46 disposed adjacent the open end 30 of the shell housing 28. Guide member 43 also has a closed end 47 spaced from the open end. The parallel arms 44 and 45 form bounding tracks to guide and laterally confine theball. These arms are disposed substantially the full length of the towel and hat receiving openings in the sides of the housing.

Shell housing 28 has a flared finger entrance portion 50 at its lower open end 30 between the lower ends 51 and 52 of the parallel arms 44 and 45 of the ball guide member 43.

To operate the device, the plate 16 is hung vertically and fixed to a wall or other surface. A towel 35, hat brim or other like article to be held is inserted in the towel and hat receiving openings forcing the ball upwardly until the towel or other article has lodged beneath the ball and between it and the front face of the plate or above the ball. The towel or other article will then be securely and easily removable by pulling the article or towel from either side of the holder.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is characterized by the provision of a holder 60 having a flat plate 61 with a shell housing 62 mounted thereon. The housing 62 has an upper end 63 which is closed and an open (partially closed) lower end 64. The housing 62 also has sides 65 and 66 which are secured to the plate 61 at the upper end of the housing but which are formed to provide towel and hat receiving slots or openings 67 and 68 at the lower end of the housing.

A spring clip 69 is mounted inside the housing 62.

Clip 69 has an upper end 69' secured to plate 61 near the upper end of the housing and a free lower end 70 disposed in the housing adjacent the open end 64 of the housing. A coil spring 70' is mounted in the housing to bias the clip 69 closed. Spring holding projections 71 and 72 on the housing 62 and clip 69 respectively hold the coil spring 70 removably mounted in the housing. The clip 69 biased by spring 70 resiliently holds any object such as a towel or hat brim in the openings 67 and 68.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as i opening in the open lower end opening downwardly, finger gripping members on the sides of the shell housing, and means in the housing removably to hold towels and hats and the like, said means being a spring clip having an upper curved end secured to the plate inside the housing and a free outwardly curved lower end disposed in the housing adjacent the open lower end of the housing, and a resilient member disposed between the housing and the lower end of the spring clip resiliently to hold the lower end of the clip'against the plate, said resilient member being a coil spring and spring holding projections on the housing and on the lower end of the spring clip removably to mount said coil spring therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rooney Jan. 1, Simon Jan. 15, Reimer Aug. 7, Woodward May 23, Goeller Dec. 2, Fulton ,Aug. 15, Youngguist Aug. 6, Fugazzi June 5, 'Rabasse ,et .al. Oct. 24, ,Putz Feb. 6, Incampo May 22; Rauscher Jan. 13, Hobson June 16, Vogler Nov. 29,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 22, 

